The July 2024 T-Shirt of the Month is called “Strike The Blow.” It recalls a radical moment in London’s history, when anarchists and socialists organized a protest rally during the lavish royal wedding of Prince George and Princess Mary of Teck in the summer of 1893. While the ruling class celebrated with pomp and wealth, working people struggled with hunger, poverty, and overwork. The demonstration in Hyde Park aimed to expose this contrast and call for revolutionary change.
The call to action
Posters and leaflets announced the protest on Sunday, July 2, 1893, at half-past three in the afternoon. The wording was strikingly direct and provocative. It denounced the monarchy as “royal vermin” wasting fortunes while workers were “dying of hunger and overwork.” The invitation called on fellow workers to prepare for revolution and ended with a line that became the defining slogan of the campaign:
“He who would be free himself must strike the blow.”
This phrase captured the spirit of the movement. Freedom would not be granted from above. It had to be won by those who demanded it.
Arrests and repression
The authorities did not remain passive. Even before the rally took place, activists who had been posting the flyers were targeted. Two members of the Socialist League were arrested, their offices searched, and they were sent to prison. The goal was clear: to intimidate the movement and prevent the protest from gaining ground. In the end, however, the case was dismissed. Instead of silencing the radicals, the state’s attempt at repression brought greater attention to their cause.
The broader context
The 1890s were a period of deep social tension in Britain. Industrialization had created immense wealth, but it was concentrated in the hands of a few. For the majority, life was defined by long working hours, meager pay, and almost no social safety net.
Against this backdrop, the royal wedding was more than just a celebration. It was a glaring symbol of inequality. While the aristocracy displayed its riches, the working class endured hardship. The protest in Hyde Park captured this anger and transformed it into collective action.
The design by Nanu Nano
For this month’s shirt, dna merch collaborated with artist Nanu Nano. Her design takes inspiration from the radical spirit of the protest and its uncompromising language. “Strike The Blow” is not just a historical quotation. It is a reminder that real change never comes without struggle.
The shirt is a bridge between past and present. It translates the bold defiance of 1893 into a modern visual statement. Wearing it means keeping alive the idea that speaking truth to power is always necessary.
Why this history matters
At first glance, a protest against a royal wedding might seem like a minor footnote in history. But it reveals something crucial about the era. It shows that even in the face of massive inequality, people found ways to resist and to make their voices heard. It shows that simple acts, like posting a flyer or joining a demonstration, could challenge authority and inspire others.
It also shows the limits of repression. The arrests of the Socialist League members were meant to discourage others, yet they failed. Instead, the protest message spread further. Such episodes remind us that resistance often grows stronger when it is attacked.
More than just clothing
The July 2024 T-Shirt of the Month is more than fabric and ink. It is a piece of history you can wear, a symbol of defiance, and a conversation starter. It commemorates the Hyde Park protest of 1893 and carries forward the message that freedom and justice are not given, but won.
Order the T-Shirt of the Month July 2024: Strike The Blow and keep the memory of London’s radical protest alive.
T-Shirts Unisex Strike The Blow (London 1893)